Continuing with card-playing references, let's say each individual season is looked at like an individual hand in cards.

The 2015 season is the most important hand Loomis will ever play.

Success or failure in 2015 will shape the Saints for the foreseeable future -- that's why Loomis swapped an "ace card" like Jimmy Graham for a "pair of kings" like Max Unger and a first-round draft pick. Having a better overall hand gives the Saints a better chance at success in 2015.

Here's why 2015 is so crucial: Drew Brees' contract.

2016 is the final year of the record-setting 5-year, $100-million deal Brees signed prior to the 2012 campaign.

If the Saints regain their footing in the NFC in 2015 and if the Saints advance deep into the playoffs and look like a formidable group, Loomis can easily give Drew Brees a two-year contract extension with a big signing bonus up front, which would significantly lower Brees' salary cap hit of $28 million for 2016.

But what if the Saints can't get back to the glory days of 2009, 2011 and 2013? What if 2014 was the beginning of the end? What if the Saints finish the 2015 season just 6-10 or 7-9 overall?

How can Loomis justify giving an extension to a soon-to-be 37-year-old quarterback who's missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons? He can't.

If the Saints falter in 2015, massive cuts and the most significant changes since 2006 are coming.

So to me, Loomis trading Jimmy Graham to Seattle makes perfect sense.

Look, we all love Jimmy and know he's a great player. But before Graham arrived in New Orleans, the Saints offense, under Drew Brees and Sean Payton, ranked as follows:2006: #12007: #42008: #42009: #1

The Saints offense was good before Graham got here and it'll continue to be good. Jimmy Graham simply became a luxury the Saints could no longer afford.

Stabilizing the offensive line with the addition of a player like Max Unger is a huge move for the Saints and will go a long way in helping Brees (and Mark Ingram) succeed in 2015.

Getting an additional first-round draft pick in 2015 will allow Loomis to add two potential starters to a defense that finished 2014 ranked 31st in the NFL. Loomis could also package the two picks (#13 and #31 overall) into a top 5 selection and land USC defensive end/tackle Leonard Williams.

As far as the rumors about the Saints being interested in former University of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota -- it's true. A source I trust very much told me Sean Payton absolutely loves Mariota. But lots of coaches and executives love Mariota.

Loving Mariota and drafting the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner are two entirely different things. So while I've just rambled on-and-on about Loomis and Payton being "bold move" and "big bet" guys, I don't think Mariota is their big play this spring.

But we'll see. Anything and everything is on the table with these two -- because all their chips are on the table for 2015.